Sherry Weddell has helped many Catholics rediscover something essential to the life of the Church: every baptised person is called and gifted for mission.
In her work on discipleship and charisms—especially in Forming Intentional Disciples—she explains that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers so that they can participate actively in the mission of Christ.
Understanding these gifts is closely connected to the heart of the lay vocation.
What is a Charism?
A charism is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit to a Christian for the building up of the Church and the good of others.
The word comes from the Greek charisma, meaning a freely given gift. St Paul describes these gifts when he writes:
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
— First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Charisms are not simply natural talents. A person may have many abilities, but a charism is present when the Holy Spirit uses those abilities in a supernatural way that bears spiritual fruit.
For example, someone might be naturally organised, but when that ability becomes a charism of administration, it helps ministries flourish and enables others to serve more effectively.
Charisms are therefore gifts for mission, not simply personal qualities.
Charisms and the Lay Vocation
One of the key insights of the Second Vatican Council was the renewed understanding of the vocation of the laity.
Lay Catholics are not simply helpers within the Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation they share in Christ’s mission and are called to bring the Gospel into the world — into family life, workplaces, culture, and society.
Charisms play a central role in this vocation.
They help answer an important question:
How is God calling me personally to serve?
Rather than asking only “Where is help needed?”, discerning charisms asks:
- What gifts has the Holy Spirit already given me?
- Where do I see spiritual fruit when I serve?
- How might God want to work through me?
When lay Catholics discover their charisms, they begin to recognise that their vocation is not generic. Each person has a unique role in God’s mission.
Signs of a Genuine Charism
Through the Called & Gifted™ discernment process developed by the Catherine of Siena Institute, three signs often indicate the presence of a charism.
Fruitfulness
When a charism is exercised, it produces genuine spiritual fruit. People are helped, strengthened in faith, or drawn closer to God.
Joy or Spiritual Energy
Even when the work is challenging, the person experiences a sense of energy or deep satisfaction.
Affirmation by Others
Other people often recognise the gift and confirm the impact it is having.
When these three elements come together, it often suggests that the Holy Spirit is working through that particular gift.
Examples of Charisms
The Holy Spirit distributes a wide variety of gifts among the faithful. Some examples include:
- Teaching – helping others understand the faith more clearly
- Encouragement – strengthening people in moments of difficulty
- Evangelisation – helping others encounter Christ and respond in faith
- Hospitality – creating spaces where people feel welcomed and valued
- Mercy – serving those who are suffering or in need
- Leadership – guiding groups toward a shared mission
- Administration – organising people and resources for effective ministry
No one receives every gift. Instead, the Church flourishes because many different charisms work together, just as the body has many parts.
Discovering Your Charisms
Many Catholics have never been helped to identify their charisms. As a result, they may not realise the ways in which God is already working through them.
To help people discern these gifts, the Catherine of Siena Institute developed the Called & Gifted™ discernment process.
This process helps individuals recognise patterns of fruitfulness in their lives and identify the gifts the Holy Spirit may have given them.
The process normally includes:
- A Called & Gifted Workshop
Introducing the theology of charisms and the mission of the laity. - The Charism Inventory
An online questionnaire that helps identify possible charisms. - Discernment and Experimentation
Reflecting on experience and trying different forms of service to see where spiritual fruit appears.
More information about this process can be found at:
Charisms and the Renewal of the Church
When Catholics begin to discover and use their charisms, parish life can change dramatically.
Instead of relying on a small group of leaders, the whole community becomes engaged in mission.
This is especially important for the vocation of the laity. The Church’s mission does not happen only in parishes or ministries. It happens in homes, workplaces, schools, communities, and society.
Lay people are uniquely placed to bring Christ into these environments.
Charisms help them do this with confidence and purpose.
Living the Heart of the Lay Vocation
At the heart of the lay vocation is a simple but profound truth:
God calls each person personally and equips them for mission.
Through the Holy Spirit, every baptised Christian has received gifts meant to serve others and build up the Church.
Discovering these gifts helps lay Catholics move from simply belonging to the Church to becoming intentional disciples actively participating in God’s work in the world.
This is the heart of the lay vocation:
to recognise that we are called, gifted, and sent.
